Coating apparatus



Dec. 23, 1930. LANZ] 1,785,835

COATING APPARATUS 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet l JA W By Dec. 23, 1930. LANZ] 1,785,835

COATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 23, 1930. E. G. LANZI 1,735,835

COATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 a, Jnuew 25 l:// ii776. 55/ 72270 6. Lam-31' fi//Zi@ JAM/V 759 M Dec. 23, 1930. E. G. LANZI 1,7 5,835

0 OATI NG APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 23, 1930. v LANZ] 1,785,835

COATING APPARATUS File Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 KZQQ, 6.

0 44 205 6-6 eyfl a y Mia/7,65 55b, 2? Y It 577770 6'. Lanai Dec. 23, 1930. E. G. LANZI 1,785,835

COATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 23, 1930. LANZl 1,785,835

COATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet '7 Dec. 23, 1930. E. G. LANZI 1,785,335

COATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Dec. 23, 1930. E. ca. LANZI 1,785,835

COATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Dec. 23, 1930. LANZI 1,785,835

COATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 {ll 1 7% e 5 S495, 7777 6, law; 1

Dec. 23, 1930. E. ca. LANZI 1,785,835

COATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 1 1 sokoms sosoosos s 107- s s 747 s a l s s s s s /705 @omsosos sososoms Dec. 23, 1930. E. G. LANiI COATING APPARATUS I Filed Sept. 28, 1925 12 Sqeats-Sheet 12 646 WWI/e72 22F: ilzfizasses 1572770 6'. liar/ r Patented Dec. 23, 1 930 PATENT OFFICE ELMO GLLANZI, OF GH'IGAGO, ILLINOIS} ASSIGNOR TO BONUS CANDY CORPORATION,

' OF CHICAGO, 'IIJJIJSTOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS COATING ArrARATUs Application fiieu September '28, 1925, Serial No. 59 102.

' My invention relates to coating apparatus,

and particularly 'to apparatus for subjecting nuts and candy centers 'tochoco'late and other edible material. A

My invention has-among its other objects the provision of apparatus of the kind de-' scribed which is convenient, durable, efiicient f -v'ent'ion comprises means for feeding prede- .termi'ned quantities of nutsaor the equivalent toa plurality ,of cages arranged around a shaft which is intermittently rotated in a single direction to dip the nuts or the equiva-l'ent into a vat containing chocolate or other coating material, each cage being advanced from a filling position through the vat to a discharging position and thence through the vat to the filling position. Each cage comprises means which is operable 'toeject the coated articles 'at'the discharging position of Fig. 14;

- Fig. 16 is a section taken on line 1616 of ,Fig. 14;

7 into one of a plurality of baskets which deposits the coated articles in single clusters or-in bars upon sheets of paper carried by an endless belt. Excess coating material is preferably' removedfrom the coated articles by an air blast. Cyclic timing means is provided for driving the improved apparatus.

I Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will i be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given. "To this end my invention consists in the novel construction;arrangement and combi- 113131011 of parts herein shown and described,

and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Inlthe drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts improved apparatus looking from the right of Fig.1; 7

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of '55 Fig. 1;

Fig. '6is a section'taken on line 66 of Fig. 5;; Fig. 7-is a section taken on -line 77 of Egg;

Fig.8 is a section taken on'line 8-8 of g- 5;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Fig. 10;,

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 1010" of Fig. 9; 4

fFig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken onj-the same line as Fig. 10;

' Fig. 12 is a section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 4:; 7 Fig. 13 is a section taken on line 1313 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a central longitudinal section through one of a plurality of cages forming part of the improved apparatus;

Fig flo is a section taken on line-15-15 Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevation looking' at the" discharge ends of a plurality of the cages;

F'g. 18 isa section taken on line 1818 of Fig. 15; I

Fig. v 19 is a sect-ion taken on line 1919 of Fig. 17 i Fig. 20 is an elevation of apparatus embodyinganother 'form of the apparatus;

g- Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation ottheapparatus shown in Fig. 20, parts Q oi the apparatus being broken away to illustrate-certain details of construction;

22 is anelevation of the apparatus shown iniFig-21, the apparatus being shown in a changed position; '05

Fig.2?) is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 21; I Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a pawl forming part of the'apparatus shown in Figs, 20 '23, inclusive, and

Fig. is a fragmentary side elevation of a conveyor-belt forming partof my improved apparatus. 7 I a In the drawings I have shown the preferred form of the invention as it is, embodied in a machine for coating nuts and thelike with any suitable material, such as chocolate, the nuts being formed into clusters or into bars. The machine comprises a frame which mined quantities ofnuts and the like into a vat containing chocolate, the coated nuts being afterwards discharged upon a conveyor belt 31 mounted in an auxiliary frame 32.

Any suitable means may be provided for driving the machine. In the drawings I have shown an. electric motor 33 mounted upon the frame30. The shaft of the motor carries a pulley 34 which is connected by a belt. 35 to a pulley 36, the pulley 36 being rigidly secured to a shaft 37 rotatably journaled in the frame 30. Also secured to the shaft 37 is a pinion 39 which-meshes with a gear40 carried by a shaft 41 (Fig. 4). J Coned upon the shaft 41 is a pinion 42, which meshes with a gear 44 secured to a shaft 45.

Disposedparallel to the shaft 45 is a shaft 46. Mounted upon the shafts 45 and 46 are members 47 and 48, respectively, which constitute Geneva mechanism whereby the shaft 45 may rotate the shaft 46 intermittently. Secured to the shaft 46 is a gear 50 meshing" with a.

a gear 51 fixed upon ashaft 52. Obviously, the I I 1 cage 100 is a plate 105 secured to the outer 35 intermittent motion of the shaft46 will be imparted to the shaft 52. The arrangement is such that the shaft 52 will be driven in acounter-clockwise direction (Fig. 10)..

Secured to the shaft 45 is a sprocket wheel 55 which is connected by a sprocket chain 56 to a sprocket wheel 57 fixed to a shaft 58 (Figs. 1 and 5). gear 59 secured'to the shaft 58 meshes-with a gear 60 secured to a shaft 61. The shaft 61 carries a sprocket wheel'63 .whichmeshes with a sprocket chain 64, thesprocketchain64 beingftrained over sprockets 65 and 66 mounted upon shafts 67 and 68,.respectively. The sprocket 66 is rotatably journaled upon the shaft 68. The purpose of this construction will presently appear. 1;; .Secured tot-he shaft45'isfa sprocket wheel 70 which is operatively ico'nnected bya sprocket chain 71 to a sprocket wheel 72 securcdupon, a shaft 74 rotatably journaled in theiframe 30. The shaft 74 carries a pulley 7 6 over which the aforementioned conveyor belt 31is trained, the conveyor belt being'also ,trained over a pulley 77 carried by a shaft 7 9 which is rotatably j ournal'ed in the auxiliary frame 32. Fixed to theshaft 74'is a gear 80 which meshes with a gear 81 secured to a shaft 82 disposedbeneath the shaft'74. Dis- 1 posed beneath :the shaft 79-is a shaft 84 1'0- tatably journaled intheauxiliaryframe 32.

supportsmechanism for dipping predeter-- strained to rotate with the gear 40 and mount- Referring now toFig. 10, a hopper 91 is provided in the upper portion of the frame 30 for holding a supply of nuts or the like. The lower end ofthe hopper 91 is closed by i a roll 92fixedupon the shaft 67. A plurality of depressions 94 are formed in the'roll 92 and are adapted to deliver predetermined quantities of nuts to spouts 95 depending from the hopper. 'A" brush 96 co-acts with the roll 92 to insure that the proper quantity of nuts will be delivered by each depression 94 foreach revolution of the shaft 67 Rigidly secured to the j aforementioned shaft 52 are discs 97 (Figs. 5, 9 and 10). In;

terposed between the discs 97 and secured thereto are angle irons 98. The angle irons 98 are spaced equi-distantly from each other and from the shaft 52.. -Mounted upon each of the angle irons 98 and radially disposed with respect to the axes of rotationof the shaft 52 are cages 100 (Fig. 14). 'Each of the cages 100 is preferably formed from a associated angle, iron 98. by rivets 104.. As

substantially rectangular in cross-section. Slidably mountedupon the rods 101 of each plurality of'U-shaped-rods 101 projecting through a plate 102,which is secured to the end of a radially disposed rod 107, thejinner end of the rod being, adjustably secured to a bar .108. The ends of the bars 108 pro]ect through radially extending slots 110 formed in the discs 97. Secured to each plate 105.

of each bar108 are adapted to ride in annu-x llo lar grooves formedin plates 116, which are rigidly secured to) the frame. 30; The grooves'115 are so designed that during the major portion of each revolution of a bar 108 around the axis of rotation of the shaft 52,-

the bar will be held in a position wherein its associated plates 105 will be disposed in the inner ends of their respective cages 100.

Slots 117 formed in the plates 116 communicats with the annular grooves 115 and per-2' mit the bars 108 to be radially displacedwith respect to'the shaft 52. When a bar108 is moved outward'in the slots 117, the associatedrods 107 drive the associated plates 105 in a like direction and cause the bent rods 112 to eject thecontents of the cages, the coated articles being ejected .in the form of clusters in the illustrated embodiments of the invention.

The means for radially displacing the bars.

108 comprises levers 120 pivotally secured by pins 121 :tothe free ends-of levers 122, the levers 122 being secured to the shaft 68. One

' end of each lever 120 is providedwith a recta'ngular lug 124 slidablyjournaled in one of the slots 117. Each lug 124 is provided with a groove 125 adapted to be aligned with the associated annular groove 115 so that the ends of the bars 108 may pass through it when they are rotated around the axis of rotation of the shaft52. hen the contents 1 of the cages associated with one bar 108 are to be discharged, the bar is brought into .a position wherein its ends are disposed in the grooves 125." ,Means hereinafter described then oscillate'the shaft 68 in such manner that the levers 122 cause the levers to reciprocate their lugs 124 in the slots 117-. As herein before set forth, outward movement of a bar 108 is accompanied by a like movement of its associated plates 105 and bent rods 112 to empty the cages 100.

. Means for oscillating the shaft 68 comprisesa lever 127 secured to the shaft 68 and 1 connected by a link 128 to one arm of a bell crank lever 129, the bell crank lever 129 being pivotally mounted upon the shaft 46 (Figs. 4 and 6). Screws or bolts 130 screwthreaded into the other arm of the bell crank :lever 129 may be manipulated to adjust the bell crank lever129 with respect to a lever 132 pivotally mounted upon the shaft 46.

The lever 132 carries anti-friction rollers 134 and 135., which ride upon cams 136 and 137,

respectively, the cams 136 and 137 being rigidly secured to the shaft 45. The cams 136 ,a'nd137 cooperate with theanti-friction rollers 134 and 135, respectively, to actuate the above described ejecting mechanism.

Closure members .140 comprising U-shaped rods are provided for theouter ends of the cages 100, The closure members 140 are mounted upon rods 141slidably journaled in bra'cketmembers 142. The bracket members 142, are riveted or otherwise secured to the discs 97 Secured to each endio'f each rod 141 is a plate 144 carrying a relatively short rod 145 which isalso slidably journaled in one of the-bearing brackets 142. The rods 145 prevent angular displacement of the rods 144 aroundtheir longitudinal axes. The rods 141 may be displaced longitudinally from positions wherein theclosure members 140 register with the cages 100 "to positions wherein 'the closure members 140-are disposed between the cages 100. The means for effecting this displacement of the rods 141 comprises pins 147 and148, which are slidably jourhaled in the'frame 30. The pin 147 is loosely pivoted to an arm 149 ofa lever 150, which also comprises arms 151 and 152. The pin 148 is loo'sely pivoted to the arm1-51. The lever is pivotally mounted by a pin 154 in a jbifurca-ted bracket 155 mounted upon the frame 30. The pin 147 is provided with a to a I bracket 168, the bracket 168 being mounted slot 157 which may be'brought into a position wherein it will engage the plates 144 disposed adjacent one of the plates 116. This position of the slot 157 is indicated in dotted -lines in Fig. 12.

Thelever 150 may be angularly displaced to bringthe slot 157 into the position wherein it is shown in full linesin Fig. 12. When the pin 147 is displaced in this manner and its slot 157 has been engaged by one of the plates 144, the plate 144 together with its associated rod 141 will be brought into the position wherein the U-shaped rods 140 are disposed between the cages 100. hen the lever 150 is oscillated, the pin 148 will be brought from the position wherein it is shown in full linesin the same figure so that it will displace a plate 144 to shift theassociated rod 141 into'the position wherein its U-shaped rods 140 close their respective cages 100.

The means for oscillating the lever 150 comprises a link 156 which is pivoted by a pin 160 to a hub 161 formed integral with the le ver 127. Obviously the lever 150 will be oscillated whenever the shaft 68 is oscillated.

. When the coated articles are ejected from thecages 100, they are transferred to the conveyor belt 31 by means comprising a plurality of cages or baskets 163 formed of U- shaped rods 164 secured in a plate 165 (Figs. 7 9-and 11). The plate 165 is rigidly secured toa block 166 which is in turn rigidly secured plate 167 mounted upon a U-shaped on a shaft 169. Rigidly secured to the corners of the plate 167 are bars 170 which carry pins 171. A bar 172 slidably mounted on the pins 171 'is provided with apertures 17 3 which accommodate the U-shaped rods 164. Secu red to the ends of the bar 172 are blocks 175 to which links 176 are pivotally secured by pins 177. The links 17 6 connect the blocks 175 with levers 179 which are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends upon the U- shaped bracket 168. The levers 179 are con- .nected by links 180 to collars 182 clamped upon a sleeve 183 which is rotatably j ournaled upon the shaft 169. As bestshown in Fig. 4, levers 185 and 186 are clamped to the shaft 169 and to the sleeve 183, respectively. Links 187 and 188 connect the levers 185 and 186, respectively, to bell crank levers 189 and 190, respectively.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be noted that the bell crank levers 189-and 190 are pivoted upon the shaft 46. 1 Screwthreaded into the bell crank lever 189 are screws or bolts 192 which maybe manipulated bolts 200'which may-be manipulated to hold the bell crank lever in a plurality-of adjustedpositions with respect to a lever 201 pivoted upon the shaft 46. Anti friction rollers 203 and 204 carried by the lever 201 cooperate with cams 205 and 206, respectively. 1

The cams 196 and 197 are designed so that they will bring the cagesor baskets 163 from or baskets 163 will be brought into the positio'ns wherein they-are shown in dotted llnes V in Fig. 11 to receive the ejected clusters. I

The cams 205 a1id206 cooperate with the anti-friction rollers '203and 204, respectively, to bring the bar 172 from the position wherein it is shown in'f'ull lines in Fig. 11 to the position whereiniit is shown indottedlines in the same figure, and afterwards returns the bar to the first-mentioned position. Thus,

each time the cages or baskets 163 are "brought into the positions wherein they are shown in dotted lines on Fig. 11, the bar 172 will be brought into a position wherein it lies in relatively close proximity to the plate 165. The clusters will be ejected into the baskets 163 in such manner that the bar 172 will eject them from the baskets when the bar and baskets arereturned to the positionswherein they are shown in full lines in Fig. 11; The

clusters ejected from the baskets 163will fall upon the conveyor belt 31.

Associated with the cages orbaskets 163 is a stripper plate 210 which is carried by levers 211 rigidly secured intermediate their ends to a shaft 212. The levers 211 also carry a stripper plate 214 adapted to'strip coated articles from the bent rods 112 forming parts of the cages 100. The stripper plate 210 is odd number of rows of cages 100 are provided.

anism and the gearing operatively' connecting adapted to stripthe coated articles from the bar 172 when the coated articles are being ejected from thecages or baskets 163. The stripping operation is accomplished by oscil- "lating the shaft 212 to bring the levers 211 into the extreme positions wherein they are shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 11. The shaft 212 is oscillated by means comprising a lever 216 secured to the shaft. The

lever 216 carries an anti-friction roller 217 which rides 111 a cam track 218 formed in a cam 219, the cam219 being constrained to ro-.

tater with the sprocket wheel '66,;which is mounted upon the shaft 68. The cam is designed'to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 13) and the cam track 218 is provided' with a-portion 220 for bringing the levers 211 from the positions wherein they are shown in full lines in Fig. 11 to the positions, wherein they are shown in dotted lines in the same figure. The cam track 218 is also provided with a portion 221 adapted toraise the stripper plate 214: a short distance above the position wherein itis shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11 so that the cages or baskets 163' maybe retracted from the positions wherein they are shown in dotted lines in the same figure. A portion 223 ofthe cam track 218 causes the stripper plate 210 to strip the coated articles from the bar 172;

Mounted in the frame 30 is a vat 225 adapted'to hold a supply of chocolate for coating nuts. 'Thevat 225 preferably pro-' jects into a receptacle 226 which may hold hot water to heat the chocolate in the vat 225 to a predetermined temperature, the water in the receptacle 226 being heated by any suitable means (not shown). Formed above the vat 225 is a housing 228 which encloses the cages 100 and the baskets 163,"an opening 229 being provided in the housing 228 through which the coated articles may be ejected from the baskets 163'onto the conveyor belt 31. An electric heater 230 disposed within 7 thehousing228 providesmean's whereby the interior of the housing may be kept at a predetermined temperature. Also disposed within thehousing 228 is a fan or blower 232 which is directly coupled to the shaft of the motor .33. The blower 232 is preferably'provided with a. plurality of nozzles 233 which register with some of the positions into which the cages 100 are brought when they are intermittently advanced around theaxis ofrotation of the shaft 52. When the blower 232 is in operation it will blow excess coating material through thenuts orv other articles disposed in thecages. I

- In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, each row of cages 100 is presented a single time'to the spouts 95 for each two revolutions of the shaft 52. Likewise, each row of cages'lOO is brought to and held in the discharging position a single time for each two revolutionsof the shaft 52.v As shown, an

The aforementioned Geneva mechit with the shaft 52-are sodesigned that alterllO nate rows of cages 100 will be presented'to charged cages will be intermittently advanced in a clockwise direction (Fig. 10); 7

around the'aXis of rotation of the shaft 52 in such manner that they will pass through the chocolate disposed in the vat 225. After passing through the chocolate, the charged cages will be advanced beyond the spouts 95 to the discharging position where the aforementioned ejecting mechanism will operate to discharge the coated articles of the cages into 1 the baskets 163.

The operation of the improved coating apparatus isi-substantially asrfollows: A'supply of nuts orother articles to'be coated is placed in the hopper .91 and a supply of. chocolate or other coating material is placed inthe vat 225. The water in the receptacle 3 I 226is heated to bring the chocolate to a pre determined temperature, the temperature in thehousing 228 beingregulated by the electric heater 230. The mechanism is then set in operation. The roll 92 is rotatedin synchronism withthe remainder of the mechanism and delivers predetermined quantities of articles, which are to be coated, to the spouts 95 in such manner that the articles fall into a row of cages 100 positioned beneath the spouts 95, the closure members 140 being shifted into positions wherein they lie between the cages. The Geneva mechanism is designed to holdtherow of cages stationary during the filling operation After the cages have been charged with the articles to be coated, they are continuously advanced un'til the. second following row of cages is disposed beneath the spouts 95,1whereupon the cages 100all come to a full stop. The pin 148 is then moved into the position wherein it is shown in full lines in Fig. 12 to close the recently charged cages 100 in the manner above described. Simultaneously, with this movement of the pin 148, the pin 14' is moved into the position wherein it is shown in full lines in Fig. 12 to open that row of cages 100 disposed. immediately behind the cages which are then registering withithe spouts 95. This charged as clusters into the baskets 163 which have beenbrought into the position wherein they are shown'in dotted lines in Fig. 10. The clusters are. stripped from the bent rods 112 r by the stripper plate 214 and are then carried by the baskets 163 to positions whereinthe.

baskets 163are illustrated in full lines in Fig. 10. 'The bar 172 is simultaneously actuated I to eject the clusters onto the belt 31, the 1 clusters being stripped from'the bar by the stripper plate 210. In the above described embodiment of the invention, the-belt 31 is continuously driven and theclusters are dis- 'tributed upon itinsuch a manner that they [maybe readily tendant.

will be readily understood that the removed therefrom by. an atsprocket wheels and -72 may be proportioned to drive the conveyor belt 31'at any desired speed. Obviously,'the coated articles or clusters will be distributed upon the conveyor belt 31in rows extending longitudinally thereof; -The belt may be driven at a speed which will insure that the clusters in each row will be spaced from each other, or the belt may be driven at a speed which will cause the clusters to be disposed on the belt in contact with each other to form bars. In practice, the clusters are preferably dropped upon sheets of oiled or waxed paper which-have been placed upon the belt 31. This permits a relatively large number of clusters to be removed from the belt at any one time. The sheets of oiled or wax paper may be placed upon the conveyor belt 31 in any desired manner, but in the preferred form of the invention, the belt 31 is provided with a plurality of flaps 235 which are secured to the belt in the manner illustrated in Fig. 25. Asthe belt 31 with its flaps 235 advances in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig.

25) around the pulley 7 7 the attendant may insert an edge of a. sheet of waxed oroiled paper undereach one of the flaps 235 A guard 23? carried by the auxiliary frame 32 guides the paper around the pulley 77 in such'manner that the paper passes between the belt 31 and the belt 89, the belt 89 being adapted tohold the paper in place upon the conveyor belt 31-. After coated articles have been discharged upon the sheet of paper, the 7 paper and the coated articles may-be removed as a unit from the conveyor belt. In Fig. 25 I have indicated a sheet o f'oiled or waxed paper at 236.

In Figs. 20 to 24, inclusive, I have illustrated mechanism which may be used in place of the sprocket wheels 70 and 72 and the sprocket chain71 to drive the conveyor belt 31. This mechanism preferably comprises a disc 240 adapted to be rigidly secured to the shaft 45." A crank pin- 241-projecting from the disc 240 rotatably journals one end of a link member 243 and one end of a link member 244. The other end of the link 1neniher 243 is pivotally secured by a pin 245 to a lever246 adapted to be pivotally mounted upon theshaft 74. The other end of the link member 244 is pivotedby a pin 248 to a lever 249 also adapted to be pivotally mounted upon the shaft74. Adapted to be rigidly secured to the shaft 74is a ratchet- 250 engageable by pawls 251 and 252, the pawls 251 and 252 being carried by the pins 245 and 248, respectively. The pawls 251 and 252 are yieldingly urged into engage ment with the ratchet 250 by springs; 254 and 255, respectively. Carried by the ratchet 250 isa mutilated ratchet 257. v The mutilated ratchet 257 is 'arovided with diametrically disposed arcuate slots 258 through which bolts 259 passfor securing the ratchet 257 i in a plurality of adjusted positions with re- .spect to the ratchet 250. It will be noted that the ratchet 250 is provided with a plurality of. teeth ,equi-distantly spaced from each other. The ratchet 257 is provided with.

three sets of teeth 260. The teeth 260 of each set are equidistantly spaced from each other,

the several sets of teeth being spaced from each'other at greater angular distances. 7

,As illustrated in Fig. 24, the pawl 251 is providedwith an extension 262 engageable with the teeth 260., When the ratchets 250 and 257 are secured to each other in the manner illustrated in Fig. 21, the conveyor belt 31 is driven substantially as follows: Assuming that the pawls" 251 and252 occupy the positions wherein they are shown in Fig. 21

with respect to the ratchet wheels 25 0 and 257 the link members 243 and 244 will be moved to the right (Fig. .21) as the shaft j 45 continues to revolve. The pawl 25 2 will advance the ratchet 250 through an angle substantially equal to the angular distance between any two teeth of the ratchet. The eXtension'262. will ride up upon one of the teeth 260. This is illustrated in full lines in Fig. 22.- Then, as the links 243 and 2144 return tothe positions wherein they are shown in Fig. '21, the ratchet 250 willremain stationary and the pawl 252 will be brought into operative engagement with the next following tooth of the ratchet 250. This sequence of operations is continued for three revolutions of the shaft 45, During the next following revolution of the shaft 45 the relatively long distance betweenany two adjacent sets of teeth 260 will permit the pawl 257 as the machine Icontinues to operate, three other baskets 163 will deposit another bar of the'coated material spaced from the first bar but aligned therewith. .'-Obviously the ratchets-250 and 257 may be designed to meet the I particular needs of the manufacturer. By the above operation it will be noted that bars of'coated articles will be formed due to the fact that'the' three coated clusters which are .60 I posited in assembled overlappedrelationso deposited upon the conveyor belt will be dethatthe soft material of the different clu complete .bar.

ters will readily "merge. together, forming a tilated ratchet257-isangularly displaced with' respect to the ratchet 250 into the position wherein it is shown in dotted' lines in Fig. 22, each ofthe 'pawls 2 51 and 252 will advance the ratchet250 during each revolution of the shaft '45, the motion imparted to the conveyor belt being substantially continuous. The baskets 163'will then deposit rows of spaced clusters of the coated materialupon the conveyor belt 31.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 20 13024, -inelusive, constitutes an attachment which may be readily secured to ends ofthe shafts 45; V

and 74, as in the preferred form ofthe invention these shafts extend beyond one side of the frame 30and enablethe. attendant to quickly secure the disc 240-to the" shaft 45 and the ratchet 250 to the shaft 74. I lVhen the attachment is to be used, the sprocket chain 71 is removed from the sprocket wheels and 72.. When the attendant desires to drive the conveyor belt by means of the sprocket chain 71, the disc 240 may beleft upon the shaft45 and the ratchet 250 may be left upon the shaft 74', the means for securing the disc and'the ratchets to "the shafts being rendered inoperative. The, apparatus. shown inFigs. 20 to24, inclusive, is in reality a part oftheimproved machine and constitutes together with the sprocket wheels 70 and 72, and the sprocket chain 71, adjustable means'for driving the conveyorbelt 31.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifica tions may-be made in the same without-de parting-from the spirit of my invention;-

hence I do not wishto be understood as limiting-myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement'and combination of parts herein shown and describedor uses mentioned.

What-I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. In apparatus of the class describecha cage, means for advancing the cage, a vat disposed in the path of the cage, a conveyor belt, means fortransferring treated articles from the cageto the belt,'and 'meansxfor advancing the belt in a series of 'steps some of which arellonger than the rest' Y 2In apparatus of the classdescribecha plurality of means for carrying articles, said means beingievenly spaced'around an axlsjof rotation, means for rotating sa d carrying means bodily around said axis of rotation,

means for filling said carryingmeans seriatim with articles to be coated, means for sub jecting said articles to coating material, means operable simultaneously with said fill-s ing means-for'forci-bly discharging the coated 7' articles from "the carryingmeans, a conveyor belt, movable basketmembers for transferring the coated articles direct from. the carryi'ng means tothebelt, :meansjfor forcibly I intermittently: advanc, ing the-belt I 'ejecting the articles;v from said basketamemhere, and meansffor 130. V

3.In apparatus of theclass described, a pluralityof means for carrying articles, said means being evenly spaced around an axis of rotation, means for rotating said carrying means bodily around said axis of rotation, means for filling said carry-ing moans seriatim with articles to becoated, means for subjecting said articles to coating'material,

means operable simultaneouslywith said fillingmeans for forcibly discharging the coated articles from the ca rying means, a conveyor belt,inovable basket members for transferring the coated articles direct from .the carrying means to the belt, and adjustable means for intermittently advancing the belt. p i r 4. In apparatus of theclass described a pinrality of means for carrying articles, said meansbeing evenly spaced around an axis of rotation, means for rotating said carrying means bodily around said axis of rotation, meansfor filling said carrying means seriatim With articles to be coated, means for subjecting 's'aid articles'to coating material,

-means operable simultaneously With said fillaxis of i'o'ta-tion, means for filling the cages with articles to be coated, a vat disposed in the path of the cages for holding a supply of coating material, means for discharging the coated articles from the cages, a conveyor belt, means for advancing the conveyor belt in a series of steps some of which are longer T than the rest, movable basket members for transferring the coated articles direct from the cages to the belt, and means for forcibly ejecting the articles from said basket members.

mounted means for receiving treated articles from the cages, and means for oscillating the last mentioned mean In an apparatus of the class described, a cage, means for advancing the cage, a vat disposed inthe path of the cage, a conveyor belt, means for transferring clusters of said treat-ed articlesfrom the cage to the belt,

and means for advancing the belt to cause said clusters to be deposited on the belt in spaced groups, the clusters of each group being arranged in overlapping relation.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cages having one of their ends closed, means for intermittently advancing the cages,'means for opening and closing the other ends of the cages at predetermined points in their movement, a vat disposed in the path of the cages, av conveyor belt, movaol'e basket members for transferring treated articles from the cages to the belt, and means for stripping the treated articles from the last mentioned means.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a cage, means for intermittently at: vancing the cage, a vat disposed in the pat of the cage, a conveyor belt, oscillating means receiving treated articles from the cage, means for stripping the treated articles from the cage upon discharge therefrom of the articles into the receiving means, means oscil lating said receiving means for depositing the treated articles upon the conveyor, and means for stripping the'treated articles from the receiving means.

10.'In an apparatus of the class described. a plurality of cages ha -ring one end closed, means for advancing the cages, means for opening and closing the other end of the cages at predetermined points in its movement, a vat disposed in the path of the cage, a conveyor belt, means for transferring treated articles in the clusters from the cage to the belt, and means for advancing the belt to cause said clusters to be deposited on the belt in spaced groups, the clusters ofeach group being arranged in overlapping relation. j V V 11. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cages, meansifor advancing the cages aroundan axis of rotation, a vat disposed in thepath of the cages, a conveyor belt, means for transferring treated articles from the cages to the belt, and adjustable means for driving the belt in a series of steps of different lengths. g

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a cage, means for advancing the cage, means foiytreatingarticles deposited in the cage, meansforcibly ejectir the articlesfrom the cage after treatment at predetermined point inits movement, a conveyor belt, means for transferring the ejected articles from the cage to the conveyor belt, and means for stripping tlie treated articles from the last mQ-ans. i I a 13. An apparatus of the character described including a series of cages longitudinally arranged in spaced rows and having one of their ends closed, a rod paralleling each rowjof cages with its ends projecting beyond the endsof' each' row, cover members car'- ried by the rods for normally closing the open end of the cages, plates attached to one Cir movable means for receiving said clusters, re-

end of each rod, a rocker arm, pins pivoted to said rocker arm, one of said pins having a slot for engagement With any one of said plates, and means for imparting movement to said rocker armvvhereby to open one roW of cages af er engagement of one of the plates with the slotand simultaneously close another row of cages by the engagement of the other pin With the outer face of one of said plates.

14. In apparatus of the class described,

15. In apparatus of the kind described, the

combination of means for forming coated clusters, a conveyor for receiving said clusters, means for conveying said clusters from said first mentioned; means'to the conveyor, and separate means for stripping the clusters from said first mentioned means and said sec- 0nd mentioned conveyor. I

16. In apparatus of the kind described, the V combination of means for forming coated I clusters, means for ejecting said clusters from said forming,1neans, means for stripping said clusters from said ejecting means, and receiving means for receiving. said clusters from said means. 1

17. In apparati' s of the class described, means for forming coated clusters, means for receiving said independent-coated clusters from said first mentioned means and arrang 'ing one cluster in contacting relation to a preceding cluster to produce a bar comprised of a plurality of connected clusters. 18. In apparatus of the'class described,rotatable'means for forming independent coated clusters, means including longitudinally ciprocable means for transferring a cluster from said rotatable meansto said longitudi- V nally movable means, sa1d reclprocable means and longitudinally movable means providing means for arrangmg one cluster in contactmg relation to a preceding cluster to therebypro-i duce abar comprised of a'plurality of connected clusters. V

l9. Inapp'a'ratu's of the class described, r0-- tatable meanshaving. means for forming individual coatedclusters, means including longitudinally movablemeans for receiving said clusters from sa1d rotatable means, said longitudinally movable meansbeing movable, I relatively to the rotatable means and providing an element of meansfor successively pre 'sent'ing clusters'in'contacting relationtoeach o other to provide a bar comprised of a plural- I ityof connected clusters. V

messes 20. In apparatus of the class described, means for forming coated clusters, means for receiving said clustersi'rom the first mentioned'means, and means to which said clusters are introduced by said receiving means, said receiving means and said means to Which saidclusters are introduced providingmeans fo'r successively presenting said clusters in overlapping relation. to thereby produce a bar consisting of a plurality of connectedclusters. iv

21.111 apparatus of the class described, means for forming coated clusters, means for ejecting said clusters from the forming means, means for "receiving said clusters; ejected from the first mentioned means, said. means for receiving said clusters being movable relatively to the-first mentioned means and providing an element of means for arranging said clusters in contacting relation.

22. In apparatus of the class described, rov tatable means for forming coated clusters, means for receiving individual coated clusters from'said first mentioned means, said last mentioned meansbeing movable 'relatively to the first mentioned means and providing an element of means for arranging the individual clusters .incontacting relation to provide a continuous bar comprised of a plurality of connected-clusters. V r

2-3. in apparatus of the class described, the combination of means for forming coated. clusters, means for ejecting said clusters fromsaid means, a stripper for'stripping said clusters from said ejecting 'means, a conveyor, means for conveying said clusters from said forming means to the. first men'- tioned conveyor. and means for. stripping a cluster. from sa1d last mentioned conveyor.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. I

ELMO G. LANZI; 

